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"His dedication, his work ethic, defining the path he's been able to get to where he is, being a captain in the American Hockey League, it's quite impressive," Bridgeport coach Scott Pellerin said.

Bruton was the captain of the Spokane Chiefs the year he turned 21 in the 2007-08 season. They won the Memorial Cup as Canada's top junior hockey team. He hoped that his gritty game and his near-point-a-game season could get him on a path to the NHL.

The offers didn't roll in. But his time in junior hockey had earned him a chance to pay for college.

"It was hard to give up four years of scholarship money," Bruton said.

So it was Acadia. He'd go to school all day (he loved classes on the two World Wars and his country's contributions) until 3 p.m., then hit the ice and stay as long as he could -- at least, as long as he could that day.

"I couldn't wait to get to pro," Bruton said. He graduated in three years in 2011.

He signed with the Alaska Aces of the ECHL and earned a tryout with the AHL's Peoria Rivermen that year, later getting an AHL contract from Peoria for the end of that season and the next. And in May, he signed with the New York Islanders, Bridgeport's parent club.